Cristiano Ronaldo deal with Juventus imminent according to latest reports

Italian football media have been speculating all week about football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid for Juventus, and the official announcement is now less than 48 hours away according to reports.

ESPN FC's Italian football correspondent Gabriele Marcotti said his discussions with sources from both clubs indicate Ronaldo will make his decision known within 48 hours.

"It’s my understanding that an agreement has been reached on principle involving Real Madrid and Ronaldo," Marcotti said.

"Madrid are happy to let him go, on principle, Ronaldo is happy to go, on principle, Ronaldo agreeing terms with Juventus, on principle.

'But the key issue was going to be the terms of his departure, whether Ronaldo was going to come out and explain why he was moving on.

"It is my understanding that they’ve all agreed how they’re going to do this and there should be developments in the next 24-48 hours.

"So stay tuned but it does look at this time that he is on his way to Turin."

Sky News similarly reported that Ronaldo is close to finalising a deal with the Italian giants.

"The Serie A side are hoping to push through a club-record £88m (A$156.9m) deal for the 33-year-old, who is set to leave Madrid after nine years at the Bernabeu," Sky Sports reported.

Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes also dropped a hint in a recent interview that the striker's departure from Real Madrid could be imminent.

"If this happens it will simply be a new stage, a new challenge in his brilliant career," Mendes said in Portuguese newspaper Record.

"If Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid, he will be eternally grateful to the club, the president, all the directors, the medical staff, all the staff without exception, as well as all the Madrid fans around the world."

Ronaldo fans noted his son's white and black shirt in a recent Twitter post as a subtle suggestion of the upcoming announcement too.